Photo: Touretteshero's 'Not I' at DaDaFest International 2018
Looking to diversify your self-isolation viewing? From video-art to Netflix shows, here’s some of the the media from disabled artists we’ve been enjoying – have a browse and suggest your own favourites for others to check out!
Film
Disabled Britain on Film
A fascinating free collection from the British Film Institute showing film representations of disabled people, going as far back as 1916. There's interesting archival footage showing shifting attitudes towards disabled people over time, but the highlights for us are examples of disabled artists directing their own work, such as Claire Cunningham's 'Resemblance':
Browse the full collection here: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/disabled-britain-on-film
Katherine Araniello Archive
Did you know the iconic films of disability arts pioneer, Katherine Araniello, are available to watch online? With applications for the Katherine Araniello Bursary Award still open, check them out and get inspired!
Full playlist from Disability Arts Online here: https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/showcase/playlist-katherine-araniello/
Video Art from Alexandrina Helmsley
Explore writing, choreography video art and more from this multidisciplinary artist. Check out her online portfolio here: http://alexandrinahemsley.com/media/
BBC Bitesize: The Future
We were thrilled to see DaDaFest-supported artist, Amina Atiq, feature in this powerful video-series of up and coming poets from BBC Bitesize!
Hear more from Amina and her cohort on the Bitesize website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhc2jhv
Actor Spotlight: Adam Pearson
In terms of feature films, one staff pick is the work of actor and campaigner, Adam Pearson, most recently seen in ‘Chained for Life’ from director Aaron Schimberg. Check out the trailer here, and you can find it available to buy or rent online if it takes your fancy:
Performance
The Lost Thing
An amazing collaboration between inclusive dance company, Candoco, and London’s Royal Opera House, we loved this operatic adaptation of Shaun Tan’s classic story. You can find it on the Royal Opera House's Learning Platform here: https://learning-platform.roh.org.uk/the-lost-thing/
Touretteshero: Me, My Mouth and I
If you missed Jess Thom's take on Samuel Beckett at DaDaFest International 2018, you can watch her adaptation of 'Not I' as part of the BBC's Performance Live series. This 60 minute film explores the background to the piece and neurodiversity in the arts more generally. Highly reccomended and available both signed and audiodescribed here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bcmh7z/performance-live-touretteshero-me-my-mouth-and-i
And Suddenly I Disappear: The Singapore ‘d’ Monologues
An international theatrical dialogue of difference” this play from Kate O’Reilly is available to watch in full over on the Live Stream Archive:
Unlimited Commissions
We’ve been revisiting media related to our fellow disability arts programme, Unlimited, whose many commissions you can explore over on their website. We particularly enjoyed this one from dancer and poet, Sonny Nwachukwu:
TV
Crip Camp
If you’ve got Netflix, we recommend you check this one out – a documentary charting how a summer camp for disabled teenagers in the 1960s helped shape the US’ disability rights movement. While you’re at it, check out another disabled-led title, Special, from comedian and activist, Ryan O’Connell
Silent Witness
It’s been a great time to catch up on gripping performances by Liz Carr - an artist who we’ve long been a fan of ever since debuting her ‘Assisted Suicide the Musical’ at DaDaFest International 2016. Recently she was also joined by our friend and featured artist, Mat Fraser! With over 170 episodes of this long-running crime drama available to stream on iPlayer, it’ll definitely keep you busy if you’ve got time to kill!
Music
Rock legends..
With rock music being a big influence for both staff and participants at DaDaFest, our quarantine soundtrack has included disabled rock legends, Jason Becker and Soft Machine’s Robert Wyatt.
Not quite as famous just yet, but we’ve also been enjoying music from our own supported artists, including the wonderful Matthew Nealis whose album you can find here: https://matthewnealis.bandcamp.com/releases
Heart n Soul
Having been joined by Electric Fire at DaDaFest Scratch last year, we're finding their 'chain funk, egg electro' beats make for great motivational songs when you're working from home. They're one of many bands supported by disability arts organisation, Heart n Soul, whose full roster of artists you can find here: https://www.heartnsoul.co.uk/art-and-music
That's a lot to be getting on with for the moment, but make sure to check out our artist page to discover even more disabled artists: https://www.dadafest.co.uk/artists/